Astros top 50 moments: Awkward night precedes firing

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You don’t have to look too far behind the moment of Jimy Williams’ firing to find the event that summed up the end of his tenure. Just one night, in fact.

Williams’ 2004 Astros happened to be hosting the All-Star Game with a team that had high expectations with Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte underachieving at 44-44. During the pregame introductions at the Tuesday night All-Star Game, Williams was booed by the hometown fans, an uncomfortable moment at what was supposed to be a celebration.

He was fired one day later.

“My biggest regret was the fact that this week couldn’t have been any more awkward for all of us,” general manager Gerry Hunsicker told reporters at the time. “The unfortunate reaction he got from the fans, and the speculation that became rampant in the last day or so was very unfortunate. He deserved better.”

Under Garner, the Astros would go 48-26 the rest of the way, netting them the National League wild card. The following year, he oversaw another late surge and ultimately the franchise’s only World Series appearance.